Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Philip · 21st October 2006, 06:09 AM

Archaeological evidence indicates that the crossbow in China remained an individual weapon for centuries. Numerous bronze trigger assemblies have been unearthed from the Zhou through Han Dynasties; these were mass-produced in government factories, and the component parts on many types are interchangeable. The crossbow's evolution into an artillery piece took time, and by the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) some very large stationary ones, often utilizing several composite-recurved bows hitched up in tandem, were in common use. Crossbow artillery, along with trebuchets, became obsolete early in the Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty with the gradual improvement of cannon, just as had occurred in Europe. Individually-fired, portable weapons also fell from favor after the 16th cent., when matchlock muskets were introduced via the Portuguese and intermediaries with contacts in the Near East.

21st October 2006, 06:09 AM	#5
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	invention Archaeological evidence indicates that the crossbow in China remained an individual weapon for centuries. Numerous bronze trigger assemblies have been unearthed from the Zhou through Han Dynasties; these were mass-produced in government factories, and the component parts on many types are interchangeable. The crossbow's evolution into an artillery piece took time, and by the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) some very large stationary ones, often utilizing several composite-recurved bows hitched up in tandem, were in common use. Crossbow artillery, along with trebuchets, became obsolete early in the Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty with the gradual improvement of cannon, just as had occurred in Europe. Individually-fired, portable weapons also fell from favor after the 16th cent., when matchlock muskets were introduced via the Portuguese and intermediaries with contacts in the Near East.